News and Stories

The Northwest onion season in Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington will run through April. While excessive heat and rain during the summer growing period decreased the quality of this year’s crop, Markon does not foresee a supply gap between seasons. Onion stocks from Mexico are crossing into Texas. The Texas onion crop will start in early April; production will begin in California by late April. Export demand did not have as much of an impact as growers predicted; supplies are covering demand. Expect steady prices over the next several weeks.  

Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and Washington

• Storage supplies of Markon First Crop (MFC) Onions will diminish through the month of April
• MFC Red and Yellow Onions will be shipped through mid- to late April
• Packer label white stocks will be available until the end of this month, but some sheds will carry stocks through mid-April 
• Late-season storage quality is holding up well, but there have been more translucent scales in yellow varieties than in years past (due to the hot summer during harvests)

Mexico

• Packer label red, yellow, and white onion varieties are crossing the border and shipping out of Texas 
• While there are very few white onions on the marketplace, there is an adequate supply of yellow and red stocks
• Recent dry, warm weather should increase volume over the next several weeks; supplies will be available through the end of March 
• Fresh-run onions of all colors will have flaky skins and light color compared to Northwest storage onions 
• Overall acreage is comparable to recent seasons

South Texas

• MFC Yellow Onions are expected to be available the week of April 4; red and white onion stocks will follow two weeks later
• Early estimates indicate planted acreage is approximately 20% lower than last year; this continues to be a year-over-year trend
• Texas-grown onion stocks will be available through mid-May
• As a reminder, a Texas state marketing order prevents the shipment of No. 2 grade onions; Markon will continue sourcing No. 2 grade onions from the Northwest until the Southern California season starts in late April
• Fresh-run onions of all colors will have flaky skins and light color compared to Northwest storage onions 

California

• MFC Yellow Onions will become available the week of April 25; MFC Red Onions will be on the market the week of May 2
• Southern California acreage is comparable to previous years
• The region continues to experience ideal weather conditions; crop growth is ahead of schedule
• Fresh-run onions of all colors will have flaky skins and light color compared to Northwest storage onions 

New Mexico

• MFC Onions will become available the week of June 6
• Markon will update overall acreage levels in the upcoming weeks 
• Fresh-run onions of all colors will have flaky skins and light color compared to Northwest storage onions 

Please contact your Markon customer service representative for more information.

©2016 Markon Cooperative, Inc. All rights reserved.